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    Popular » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Orange Chicken

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Apr 1, 2019 · Modified: Feb 25, 2021 by Dee

    This delicious Instant Pot Orange Chicken is a quick and easy dinner you can make in the pressure cooker in about 30 minutes. Better than takeout!

    Jump to Recipe -

    instant pot orange chicken in a white bowl over rice with scallions

    Who needs takeout when you can easily whip up this Instant Pot orange chicken at home?! If you're looking for easy Instant Pot recipes with chicken, you're going to love this sweet and spicy orange chicken recipe!

    I've been working on a homemade version of orange chicken ever since we moved away from our favorite Chinese restaurant. I wanted an easy recipe that didn't call for ingredients that we wouldn't  normally use. I hate having lots of open bottles taking up valuable fridge space!

    So, I make my orange chicken recipe with orange marmalade, orange juice, zest and a little bit of my favorite sweet chili sauce. You can find these items and the rest of the ingredients practically anywhere, and you probably have most of them at home!

    Friends, this homemade Instant Pot orange chicken is definitely a keeper. I've made it several times in the last couple of weeks, and my family practically inhaled it! It's one of our favorite Instant Instant Pot recipes!

    How to Make Easy Instant Pot Orange Chicken with Orange Marmalade

    First, cut up the chicken in one-inch cubes. You don't want to make them too small, since they shrink when pressure cooking. Season and cook the chicken on the saute setting until just no longer pink.

    saute cut chicken in instant pot

    Next, turn the pot off, and add the soy sauce, orange juice and zest. Then, spoon the orange marmalade and sweet chili sauce on top.

    Do not stir everything together! You don't want the thick marmalade to stick to the pot and burn. Now, the chicken is ready for pressure cooking! Since the chicken releases plenty of water as it cooks, you don't need a ton of liquid here.

    layer ingredients for orange chicken in instant pot

    You can make a cornstarch slurry while the chicken is cooking. This will help thicken the sauce so that it coats the chicken.

    After pressure cooking the chicken, use the Saute setting to bring the sauce to a simmer. Then, stir in the cornstarch slurry. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken up, and you're done!

    whisk cornstarch slurry into instant pot orange chicken

    Is this Instant Pot Orange Chicken Healthy?

    This pressure cooker orange chicken is on the healthy side since it's not fried. You can also use an all natural orange marmalade to cut the sweetness.

    Is there a Substitute for Sweet Chili Sauce?

    I use Thai sweet chili sauce here, and there really isn't a substitute for it. You can use regular chili sauce -- think Heinz  -- but the flavor isn't quite the same.

    Is There Enough Liquid in This Pressure Cooker Chicken Recipe?

    Yes! The chicken releases water as it cooks, so you only need ¼ to ½ cup of orange juice, plus the liquid from the sauces to make it work!

    bowl of homemade instant pot orange chicken over jasmine rice topped with cut scallions and sesame seeds

    More Easy Instant Pot Recipes with chicken

    • Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta
    • Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
    • Instant Pot Whole Chicken
    • Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Tortellini

    Easy Instant Pot Orange Chicken Recipe

    Contains affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. 

    instant pot orange chicken in a white bowl over rice with scallions

    Instant Pot Orange Chicken

    Published by Dee
    This delicious Instant Pot Orange Chicken is a quick and easy dinner you can make in the pressure cooker in about 30 minutes. Better than takeout and healthier!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 4 mins
    pressure time 10 mins
    Total Time 24 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 6
    Calories 262 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1.8 pounds chicken
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon ginger
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ to ½ cup orange juice from 1 large orange
    • orange zest
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce low sodium
    • ½ cup orange marmalade
    • ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce (affiliate link)
    • 1 tablespoon corn starch
    • 3 tablespoons water

    Instructions
     

    • Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot, and when it reads Hot, add the olive oil and chicken
    • Stir in the garlic powder, ginger, sea salt and pepper. Cook chicken until no longer pink, stirring frequently
    • Hit CANCEL, to turn pot off. Add the orange juice, zest and soy sauce
    • Add the orange marmalade and sweet chili sauce, but do NOT stir
    • Place lid on pressure cooker, turn valve to Sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOk for 4 minutes
    • Pot will take a few minutes to reach pressure, then cook for 4 minutes. When pot beeps, do a quick release by turning valve to venting 
    • Make cornstarch slurry by adding cornstarch to water and stirring quickly until well blended
    • When pin drops, open lid, and stir. Hit CANCEL, then hit SAUTE and wait for liquid to start bubbling. 
    • Stir in the cornstarch slurry, and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes or until liquid thickens
    • Hit CANCEL to turn pot off, and serve over rice. Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools

    Notes

    Recipe was made in 6 quart Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. If using an 8 quart, use 1 cup orange juice.
     

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 262kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 12gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 529mgPotassium: 166mgSugar: 22gVitamin A: 130IUVitamin C: 7.5mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.7mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    instant pot pressure cooker orange chicken in white bowl

    I hope you enjoy this easy Instant Pot orange chicken dinner as much as we do!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Dana says

      April 15, 2019 at 10:36 am

      I made this for dinner last night and it tastes AMAZING! The chicken is delicious, but I especially love how the sauce tastes5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 16, 2019 at 1:17 pm

        Thank you so much, Dana! We love the sauce!

    2. James says

      April 04, 2019 at 6:52 am

      Awesome! Made this last night and it was another hit! Going to make this often.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 04, 2019 at 11:43 am

        So glad to hear this, James! Thanks so much!

    3. Jackie says

      April 03, 2019 at 4:28 pm

      I made this yesterday and it was amazing. My children asked for seconds and that never happens.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 04, 2019 at 11:52 am

        Now that is ALWAYS a good sign! Thanks, Jackie!

    4. Allison says

      April 02, 2019 at 2:36 pm

      I love that I can make our takeout favorite at home in the IP. Thanks SO much for sharing!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 04, 2019 at 11:49 am

        Same here, Allison! This is so much better than most takeout! 🙂

    5. Cathy says

      April 02, 2019 at 12:53 pm

      My kids love orange chicken! This looks like a nice lighter version!

      Reply
    6. Bee says

      April 02, 2019 at 8:42 am

      Bravo! What a great idea! Love this. I’m sure this is incredibly delicious!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 02, 2019 at 9:01 am

        Thanks so much, Bee! I hope you get a chance to try it! 🙂

    7. Chrissie Baker says

      April 02, 2019 at 8:41 am

      WOW what a great idea! I love chicken. Your version really pleases me very well, with ingredients that I often use in cooking too.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 02, 2019 at 9:01 am

        Thank you, Chrissie! I try to keep things as simple as possible. 🙂

    8. Jade Manning says

      April 02, 2019 at 5:45 am

      This looks delicious, the whole family would love this!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 02, 2019 at 8:59 am

        My family really loved it! Thanks, Jade. 🙂

    9. Lora says

      April 02, 2019 at 2:25 am

      This is exactly what I want for dinner tonight!! Looks great!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 02, 2019 at 8:59 am

        Thanks so much, Lora. It tastes good pretty good, too! 😉

    10. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says

      April 01, 2019 at 12:12 pm

      This looks absolutely perfect in every possible way!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 01, 2019 at 1:39 pm

        Thanks, Jocelyn! We loved this Orange Chicken! 🙂

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